Headlight controlling device



@at l, @B w. F. FRASER HEADLIGHT CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed May l5, 1934 Patented Oct. 1, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE William Farquhar Fraser, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada Application May 16, 1934, Serial No. 725,937

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a headlight controlling device for automotive vehicles, its object is to promote driving safety to all concerned by providing a positive and instantaneous method whereby the headlight or both of them may be angularly diverted from the straight and forward direction left or right-handedly, and particularly the latter, so that the blinding glare offered to an oncoming vehicle is instantly removed, and the light ray automatically directed upon the curb or edge of the road where it is urgently needed for the proper guidance of the driver. By this procedure the sudden shift of the headlight rays aford to the approaching vehicle a live and arresting signal, Whilst at the same time the origin of the light ray provides a clear and easily viewed signal as to what must be avoided during the passage of the two vehicles to escape contact.

I am aware that various dirigible headlight devices have been suggested. Some with universal angular tilting mechanisms, others interconnected with the steering gear, but so far as I am aware none with the same positive, and instant deflection of the reflector which my device provides.

In carrying my invention into effect I adopt for the reflector within the lantern, an angular movement in the horizontal plane to a stop, at which point the reflector is automatically locked until released by the driver. The reflector swivels on a vertical axis and is motivated by a small electric motor within the lantern, and through a rack and pinion connection controlled by a press switch on the control board, or means equivalent to these.

By this combination it will readily be seen that I am able to obtain an absolutely prompt but steady and uniform motion, which is entirely devoid of jerks and shocks which invariably break the lamp filaments just at the moment when their failure is most risky or dangerous. In more fully describing my invention reference is made to the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of this application and in which Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the centre line of the reflector and lantern,

Fig. 2 is a part plan view to an enlarged scale, and shows more particularly the revolving and arresting gear, with the stabilizing device for recentering the reflector superposed in broken lines,

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the magnetic stop, and

Fig. 4 is a diagram of the electric connections.

It is not intended that the drawing should be limitative as regards mechanical details, except insofar as such may fall Within the scope and langauge of the claim.

In the drawing the numeral 5 indicates a headlight reilector of the usual parabolic type,

6 the lamp bulb for same, 1 the lantern or casing 5 secured to the chassis in the usual Way. 8 is a vertical pivot spindle in two parts axially coincident, and secured to the reflector above and below and running in anti-friction bearings 9 secured in the casing 1. A small electric motor IIJ 10 mounted in the lower -portion of the lantern 1 actuates the angular movement of the reflector 5 through the pinion II and the arcuate rack I2, the swing of the latter being utilized to actuate the blade I3 of theswitch I4 so as to open the 15 circuit I5 of the motor I0, and thus arrest the angular motion of the reflector 5 at the limit of its swing. Slight further movement of the blade I3 contacts the terminal I6 thus closing the circuit I'I of the magnetic clutch I8. This 20 raises the hook extremity I9 of the hinged armature plate 2E! whereby the latter engages the arm.

2| of the toothed sector or arcuate rack I2 which is thereby held until the circuit I1 is opened when the hook I9 and the plate 20 fall by gravity. 25 This action then permits the reflector 5 to respond to the tension of the centering spring 22 of the stabilizing device indicated in broken lines in Fig. 2. This latter consists of a stop pin 23 against which the two notched pivotal arms 24 firmly 30 abut under the tension of the spring 22, either of the arms 24 being extended against the tension of the spring 22 by the roller ended crank 25 secured to the spindle 8 of the reflector 5.

The operation of the device is readily seen 35 from the figures and the diagram indicated in Fig. 4. It is assumed that the headlight is pointing direct forward and that the reflector is to be swung over to the right. The switch 26 is closed and current flows from the battery 2l to the switch 40 blades I3 thence through the contacting terminal 28 to circuit I5 through motor I0 to ground at 29. This energizes the motor to turn the rack I2 angularly clockwise until the blade I3 is contacted by the stop 3D on the rack I2 thereby 45 opening the motor circuit I5. Slight further movement of the rack I2 contacts the terminal I6 closing circuit I'I operating clutch I8 which holds the rack until switch 26 is again opened when the rack I2 is released and the stabilizing 50 device by the spring 22 centralizes the reflector and stea-dies it to its normal position.

I claim:-

In a dirigible headlight device having a reflector pivotally mounted in a lantern and mov- 55 able'in a substantially horizontal plane in combination a vertically disposed pivot spindle secured to the lower external surface-of the said reilector and a corresponding and axially coincident pivot spindle secured to the upper surface of the said reflector, antifriction bearings for the ends of said spindles and secured in said lantern, a toothed sector secured to one of said spindles, an electric motor secured in said lantern and provided with a pinion engaging said sector, a pin stop secured in said lantern, a pair of di- Vergent arms `pivotally secured in said lantern anda helical extension spring between and con nected to said arms whereby the latter oppositely abut the said stop at their outer extremities, a

when said reflector has reached its angular limit v the electric circuit of said motor is opened and the circuit of said magnetic clutch is closed.

WILLIAM FARQUHAR FRASER. 

